]]>Around the world there are approximately 15 million Ismaili Muslims, who belong to the Shia branch of Islam. Their spiritual leader is the Aga Khan, who traces his ancestors directly back to the Prophet Muhammad. A wealthy philanthropist, he has made it his mission, based on his faith, to fight poverty, encourage peace, and promote religious understanding. We spoke with him in Toronto, where the Aga Khan Museum, the first art museum in North America devoted to Islamic art and culture, recently opened to the public.

]]>http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/07/31/aga-khan-ismaili-muslims/26534/feed/0Aga Khan,Islam,Ismaili Muslims,Prophet Muhammad,Shia,Shia Sunni Conflict,social justice"Islam believes fundamentally that the spiritual and material worlds are inextricably connected. Faith is a force that should deepen our concern for our worldly habitat, for embracing its challenges, and for improving the quality of human life.""Islam believes fundamentally that the spiritual and material worlds are inextricably connected. Faith is a force that should deepen our concern for our worldly habitat, for embracing its challenges, and for improving the quality of human life."Religion & Ethics NewsWeeklyno10:28 Women’s Mosque of Americahttp://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/07/24/july-24-2015-womens-mosque-america/26554/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/07/24/july-24-2015-womens-mosque-america/26554/#commentsFri, 24 Jul 2015 19:13:39 +0000http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/?p=26554More →

]]>American Muslim women can feel marginalized at worship services in traditional mosques. Only men are allowed to lead the prayers and preach the sermons, and women are usually seated in separate areas. But at the new Women’s Mosque of America, believed to be the first female-only mosque in the U.S., women are in charge, and participants hope to influence the larger Muslim community to be more inclusive.

]]>http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/07/24/july-24-2015-womens-mosque-america/26554/feed/0gender,Islam,mosque,Women"Women have for a long time felt shut out from mosques everywhere. And so instead of trying to argue against whether this women’s mosque should exist or not, they should really be looking at their own communities and wondering how they can make them a ..."Women have for a long time felt shut out from mosques everywhere. And so instead of trying to argue against whether this women’s mosque should exist or not, they should really be looking at their own communities and wondering how they can make them a more welcoming place for everyone," says Dr. Laila Al-Marayati, one of the preachers at the all-female Women's Mosque of America.Religion & Ethics NewsWeeklyno8:57 A Different Islamic Schoolhttp://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/07/17/july-17-2015-a-different-pakistan-madrasa/26504/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/07/17/july-17-2015-a-different-pakistan-madrasa/26504/#commentsFri, 17 Jul 2015 20:00:35 +0000http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/?p=26504More →

]]>In recent years, traditional Islamic seminaries, or madrasas, have come under scrutiny and criticism as incubators of terrorism and extremist interpretations of Islam. Correspondent Fred de Sam Lazaro has a report on one school, the Jamia Islamia Clifton madrasa founded 40 years ago in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, that is trying to change that image and broaden the scope of what students are taught.

]]>http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/07/17/july-17-2015-a-different-pakistan-madrasa/26504/feed/0Islam,Islamic extremism,madrasahs,Pakistan,Salafists"There's threat to whatever we do here at Jamia Islamia. But for me, it is a mission," says Mufti Abu Huraira, whose father established the Jamia Islamia Clifton madrasa where students are vetted for any ties to extremist activities and political discu..."There's threat to whatever we do here at Jamia Islamia. But for me, it is a mission," says Mufti Abu Huraira, whose father established the Jamia Islamia Clifton madrasa where students are vetted for any ties to extremist activities and political discussion is forbidden.Religion & Ethics NewsWeeklyno7:02 Eid al-Fitrhttp://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/07/17/july-17-2015-eid-al-fidr/26482/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/07/17/july-17-2015-eid-al-fidr/26482/#commentsFri, 17 Jul 2015 17:30:35 +0000http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/?p=26482More →

]]>Imam Johari Abdul-Malik of the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia describes the rituals and spiritual significance of Eid al-Fitr, the three-day festival marking the end of the month-long Ramadan fast.

]]>Some mosques use the month of Ramadan as an opportunity to educate friends and neighbors about Islam. The Dar al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia encourages members of its congregation to bring non-Muslim friends to their iftar dinners, the meal that breaks the fast during Ramadan. Imam Johari Abdul-Malik describes how the program ties the community together.

]]>During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims who are able are expected to fast from sun up to sun down. This can pose special challenges for Muslims in many professions. We talk with members of the Muslim hip-hop group Native Deen about how they observe Ramadan’s strict requirements while on musical tours.

]]>http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/06/12/june-12-2015-ramadan-on-the-road/26157/feed/0fasting,hip hop,Islam,Musicians,Ramadan"All of the experiences that I have during Ramadan when we're on tour fasting have always been a blessing," says Native Deen group member Abdul-Malik Ahmad. "So during the month of Ramadan, I feel that it's my time to say thank you to God, basically,"All of the experiences that I have during Ramadan when we're on tour fasting have always been a blessing," says Native Deen group member Abdul-Malik Ahmad. "So during the month of Ramadan, I feel that it's my time to say thank you to God, basically, for all these opportunities."Religion & Ethics NewsWeeklyno6:03 Latino Converts to Islamhttp://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/06/05/july-25-2014-latino-muslims/23669/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/06/05/july-25-2014-latino-muslims/23669/#commentsFri, 05 Jun 2015 15:30:44 +0000http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/?p=23669More →

]]>We visit the Islamic Center of Greater Miami to look at the rising number of Latino Muslims in the US—as many as 250,000, according to estimates. Some of the converts say that in Islam they have found theological simplicity and “no intermediaries with God.” The Islamic Circle of North America reports that more than half of US Latino converts are women. “I just felt that the minute I put my head down to the ground, “ says Nadia Echevrria, “I was really talking to God.”

]]>http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/06/05/july-25-2014-latino-muslims/23669/feed/62Conversion,Hispanic/Latino,Islam“I just felt that the minute I put my head down to the ground I was really talking to God,” says Nadia Echevrria. More than half of all Latino converts to Islam are women.“I just felt that the minute I put my head down to the ground I was really talking to God,” says Nadia Echevrria. More than half of all Latino converts to Islam are women.Religion & Ethics NewsWeeklyno9:14 Average Mohamedhttp://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/03/20/march-20-2015-average-mohamed/25531/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/03/20/march-20-2015-average-mohamed/25531/#commentsFri, 20 Mar 2015 17:15:07 +0000http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/?p=25531More →

]]>Radical Islamic groups are using high-quality videos to recruit young Muslims in the US and Europe to join their fight. Now, a Somali Muslim immigrant in Minnesota is fighting back with his own videos—an animated series called “Average Mohamed” that counters extremist ideas about Islam.

]]>http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/03/20/march-20-2015-average-mohamed/25531/feed/0cartoonist,counterterrorism,homegrown terrorism,Internet,ISIS,Islam,Islamic extremism,MinnesotaRadical Islamic groups are using high-quality videos to recruit young Muslims in the US and Europe to join their fight. Now, a Somali Muslim immigrant in Minnesota is fighting back with his own videos—an animated series called "Average Mohamed" that co...Radical Islamic groups are using high-quality videos to recruit young Muslims in the US and Europe to join their fight. Now, a Somali Muslim immigrant in Minnesota is fighting back with his own videos—an animated series called "Average Mohamed" that counters extremist ideas about Islam.Religion & Ethics NewsWeeklyno6:50 Muslim Initiatives Against Extremismhttp://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/02/27/november-14-2014-muslim-initiatives-extremism/24595/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/02/27/november-14-2014-muslim-initiatives-extremism/24595/#commentsFri, 27 Feb 2015 16:45:45 +0000http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/?p=24595More →

]]>http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/02/27/november-14-2014-muslim-initiatives-extremism/24595/feed/73extremist,ISIS,Islam,Islamic radicalization,Islamic State,Islamist,jihad,radicalAmerican Muslims are not going to let their faith be defined by ISIS, says Hoda Elshishtawy, national policy analyst for the Muslim Public Affairs Council. “Islam is about life, human rights, dignity, justice. Muslims are taking back that narrative.”American Muslims are not going to let their faith be defined by ISIS, says Hoda Elshishtawy, national policy analyst for the Muslim Public Affairs Council. “Islam is about life, human rights, dignity, justice. Muslims are taking back that narrative.”Religion & Ethics NewsWeeklyno8:30 White House Summit on Countering Extremismhttp://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/02/20/february-20-2015-white-house-extremism-summit/25288/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/02/20/february-20-2015-white-house-extremism-summit/25288/#commentsFri, 20 Feb 2015 22:00:18 +0000http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/?p=25288More →

]]>http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2015/02/20/february-20-2015-white-house-extremism-summit/25288/feed/0Barack Obama,extremism,Haris Tarin,ISIS,Islam,Islamophobia,Muslim Public Affairs Council,religious violence"There’s a sense of fear in the American Muslim community that they’re being singled out," says Haris Tarin, director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council's Washington office. He also said President Obama's remarks at the summit helped alleviate some o..."There’s a sense of fear in the American Muslim community that they’re being singled out," says Haris Tarin, director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council's Washington office. He also said President Obama's remarks at the summit helped alleviate some of those concerns. "He talked about the fact that Islam is not the problem. It’s terrorism that’s a human problem."Religion & Ethics NewsWeeklyno5:26